OFFICIAL  BULLETINS  OF  THE 
NATIONAL  COUNCIL  OF  THE 
PROTESTANT  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

SERIES  OF  1926  BULLETIN  NO.  53 


Childhood  Ventures  In 
Christian  Serviee 


Issued  by  the 

Department  of  Religious  Education 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  PUBLICITY 
CHURCH  MISSIONS  HOUSE 
281  FOURTH  AVE.,  NEW  YORK 


Bulletins,  1921  — 1925 

1.  Introductory  Bulletin.  Publicity.  {Out  of  Print) 

2.  Budget  for  1921.  Finance. 

3.  Diocesan  Program  for  Religious  Education.  R.  E.  {Out  of  Print) 

4.  The  Pearl  of  the  Antilles  (Cuba).  Missions.  Price  5c. 

5.  Summer  Schools.  Religious  Education.  {Out  of  Print) 

6.  Church  School  Service  League.  Religious  Education.  {Order  A’o.  4546) 

7.  In  the  Track  of  the  Trade  Winds.  Missions.  Price  5c. 

(Porto  Rico,  Virgin  Islands  and  Dominican  Republic) 

8.  Parochial  Missions.  Field.  {Out  of  Print) 

9.  Proposed  Continuance  of  Campaign  Work.  Field.  {Out  of  Print) 

10.  Under  the  Southern  Cross  (Brazil).  Missions.  Price  5c.  {Order  No.  525) 

11.  Parish  Organization.  Field.  {See  Bulletin  No.  52) 

12.  Parish  Program  Conferences.  Field. 

13.  Under  Four  Flags.  Missions.  Price  5c. 

(Canal  Zone,  Haiti  and  Colombia) 

14.  Theological  Text  Books.  Religious  Education.  {Out  of  Print) 

15.  Problems  and  Policies  in  Japan.  Missions.  Price  20c.  {Order  No.  307) 

16.  The  Church  and  the  Foreign-Born.  Missions. 

17.  Report  of  Income  and  Expenditures  for  1920.  Finance.  {Out  of  Print) 

18.  Our  Church  Schools  for  Negroes.  Church  Institute  for  Negroes. 

19.  Budget  for  1922.  Finance. 

20.  A Diocesan  Program  for  Religious  Education.  Religious  Education. 

21.  The  Cross,  the  Flag  and  the  Church.  Missions.  Price  5c.  {Order  No.  iOO) 

(The  Philippine  Islands) 

22.  Students  and  the  Church.  Religious  Education. 

23.  Promoting  the  Church’s  Mission  in  1922.  Field.  {Out  of  Print) 

24.  The  Young  People’s  Movement.  {Out  of  Print) 

25.  Suggested  Social  Service  Program.  Social  Service. 

26.  Handbook  of  Church  Publicity.  Publicity. 

27.  Immigrant  Child  and  Church  School.  F.  B.  A.  Division. 

28.  Week  Day  Religious  Instruction.  Religious  Education. 

29.  Report  of  Commission  on  Provincial  Organization.  Religious  Education. 

30.  Church  Boarding  Schools.  Religious  Education. 

31.  Report  of  Income  and  Expenditures  for  1921.  Finance. 

32.  Syllabus  of  Theological  Studies  and  Examinations.  {Out  of  Print) 

33.  Possibilities  of  the  Office  of  Diocesan  Exec.  Sec.  {Out  of  Print) 

34.  Three  Charts.  Field.  {Order  No.  2112) 

35.  Church  Fire  Insurance. 

36.  Study  Courses  for  Adults  for  1923.  (Owf  of  Print) 

37.  The  Church  Service  League.  Field.  {See  Bulletin  No.  52) 

38.  Study  Courses  for  Adults  for  1923-24.  {Out  of  Print) 

39.  Report  of  Income  and  Expenditures  for  1922.  Finance. 

40.  Group  Organization  in  the  Parish.  Field. 

41.  Diocesan  Publicity  Program.  Publicity. 

42.  The  Church’s  Investment  in  Africa.  Missions. 

43.  Parish  Business  Methods. 

44.  Study  Courses  for  Adults  for  1924-25. 

45.  How  to  Reach  the  Foreign-Born.  F.  B.  A.  Division. 

46.  Report  of  Income  and  Expenditures  for  1923.  Finance. 

47.  Church  Boarding  Schools.  Religious  Education. 

48.  Syllabus  of  Theological  Studies  and  Examinations.  R.  E. 

49.  Theological  Text  Books.  Religious  Education. 

50.  Courses  on  the  Church’s  Mission. 

51.  Report  of  Income  and  Expenditures  for  1924.  Finance. 

52.  The  Parish  Organized  for  Service.  Field. 

Bulletins,  Series  of  1926 

53.  Childhood  Ventures  in  Christian  Service.  Religious  Education. 

Additional  copies  of  any  Bulletin  can  be 
secured  free  of  charge,  except  as  indicated, 
by  writing  to  The  Book  Store,  Church  Mis- 
sions House,  281  Fourth  Avenue,  New  York. 


i 


The  Children  of  the  Church 

Speaking  Through 

The  Triennial  Report  of  the 
Church  School  Service  League 

Presented  by 
FRANCES  H.  WITHERS 
AT  NEW  ORLEANS,  OCTOBER  7,  1925 


Together  with  Foreword 
by 

The  Rev.  John  W.  Suter,  Jr. 


I 


LEADERS  in  RELIGIOUS  EDUCATION 


Group  A 

National  Headquarters 


l.The  Presiding 
Bishop  of  the 
Church 


2. The  General 
Executive  for 
Religious  Education 


3,  The  General 

Supervisor  of  the 
Service  Program 


Group  B 
The  Province 


J,The  Bishop- 
President  of  the 
Province 


2. The  Provincial 
Executive  for 
Religious  Education 


3. The  Provincial 
Supervisor  of  the 
Service  Program 


Group  C 

The  Diocese  or  Missionary  District 


l.The  Bishop 

of  the  Diocese  or 
District 


2,  T ^>6  Diocesan 
Executive  for 
Religious  Education 


3.  The  Diocesan 

Supervisor  of  the 
Service  Program 


l.The  M inister 
of  the 

Congregation 


Group  D 
The  Parish 


2. The  Parochial 
Executive  for 
Religious  Education 


3,  The  Parochial 
Supervisor  of  the 
Service  Program 


FOREWORD 


A corps  of  leaders  in  Church  School  Service  League  work  all 
over  the  country,  and  a host  of  friends  of  the  League  every- 
where, are  asking  what  has  happened.  Word  has  gone  out  that 
there  is  no  League  any  more.  But  this  is  only  partly  true;  and 
what  truth  there  is  in  it  is  complimentary  to  the  League. 

The  national  Department  of  Religious  Education  no  longer 
initiates,  maintains,  or  runs  a national  Church  School  Service 
League.  There  are  Church  School  Service  Leagues  in  many 
provinces,  dioceses,  and  parishes ; but  these  are  locally  estab- 
lished and  locally  controlled.  The  present  arrangement  results 
from  the  fact  that  the  Church  School  Service  League  movement 
has  been  so  ably  led  and  so  vigorously  promoted  that  it  has 
convinced  the  educational  leaders  of  the  Church  that  a “Cur- 
riculum of  Good  Works”  (or  “Graded  Service”)  must  be  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  essential  parts  of  every  good  religious-edu- 
cation program,  and  that  consequently  it  cannot  be  relegated  or 
confined  to  any  particular  club  or  society.  Therefore,  from 
now  on  no  Church  School  that  does  not  give  its  members  training 
in  Service  is  considered  a “regular  school.”  In  other  words,  a 
child,  in  order  to  become  as  it  were  “liable”  for  Service  to  his 
neighbors,  need  join  only  a Church  School; — or.  Indeed,  only 
a Church. 

The  national  Department  of  Religious  Education  issues  to  all 
parishes  suggestions  for  training  children  in  Worship,  for  train- 
ing them  in  Service,  and  for  instructing  them  in  the  Truth;  but 
the  Department  does  not  presume  to  say  through  what  form  of 
organization  these  three  endeavors  shall  locally  be  made.  We 
are  not  organizers.  We  aspire  to  be  producers  and  distributors 
of  ideas, — guides  of  organizers.  (This  point  is  further  devel- 
oped in  the  pamphlet.  Next  Steps  in  Religious  Education,  pages 
49  to  59  inclusive.  Copies  may  be  obtained  from  The  Book 
Store,  Church  Missions  House,  281  Fourth  Avenue,  New  York, 
N.  Y.  Price  15  cents.) 


5 


6 


BULLETIN  NO.  53 


1926 


By  its  very  nature  the  national  Department  of  Religious  Edu- 
cation, being  a branch  of  the  official  government  of  the  Church, 
can  sponsor  only  such  enterprises  as  are  essential  to  religious 
education.  A national  League  for  Service  is  not  thus  essential. 
A national  Program  of  Service  is.  A parallel  case  is  found  in 
the  matter  of  Church  Schools.  We  try  to  furnish  ideas  for 
Church  School  leaders ; but  we  do  not  create  or  maintain  a 
national  League  of  Church  Schools  or  their  members. 

In  order  properly  to  guide  this  service  the  national  Depart- 
ment of  Religious  Education  has  a secretary  in  charge  of  the 
work  under  whose  supervision  a Service  Program  Committee 
will  continue  in  each  diocese  and  missionary  district.  The  chair- 
man of  this  committee  is  the  Diocesan  Supervisor  of  the  Service 
Program.  The  committee  should  include  a Christmas  Box 
Secretary,  a Birthday  Thank  Offering  Secretary,  a Lenten  Of- 
fering Secretary,  a Little  Helper’s  Offering  Secretary,  and  any- 
one else  who  is  needed  to  carry  on  the  work.  Similarly,  each  parish 
should  have  a committee  on  the  Service  Program  with  a super- 
visor as  chairman,  though  it  will  not  be  necessary  in  most  cases 
to  have  as  many  members  as  on  the  diocesan  committee. 

In  a small  parish  the  entire  Service  Program  may  be  directed 
by  the  supervisor. 

For  a further  discussion  of  the  “Curriculum  of  Service”  see 
The  Spirit  of  Missions  for  May,  1926,  which  contains  an 
article  on  this  subject  on  the  page  devoted  to  the  Department 
of  Religious  Education. 

I trust  that  the  foregoing  statement  makes  clear  not  only 
the  present  situation  but  also  the  deep  feeling  of  friendliness 
and  gratitude  which  the  national  Department  of  Religious  Edu- 
cation has  towards  Church  School  Service  League  leaders  wher- 
ever they  may  be  found. 


f 


281  Fourth  Avenue, 
April,  1926. 


John  W.  Suter,  Jr. 


TRIENNIAL  REPORT 
CHURCH  SCHOOL  SERVICE  LEAGUE 

By  Frances  H.  Withers 

Greetings  ; 

Once  again  I am  privileged  to  present  to  a body  of  leaders 
the  triennial  report  of  the  Church  School  Service  League. 
Many  of  you  who  are  here  today  were  in  Detroit  six  years  ago 
when  the  momentous  step  was  taken  of  separating  the  Junior 
Department  from  the  Woman’s  Auxiliary  and  merging  it  into 
the  Church  School  Service  League.  Again,  you  were  present 
in  Portland  three  years  ago  when  we  met  and  reviewed  the  re- 
sults of  having  taken  this  step  and  together  formulated  plans 
for  furthering  the  training  of  boys  and  girls  in  world-wide  ser- 
vice for  our  Lord  Christ.  I cannot  pay  too  high  a tribute  to  the 
many  men  and  women  who  have  seen  what  the  vision  of  service 
to  mankind  in  Christ’s  Name  will  mean  to  the  world,  and  through 
whose  efforts  the  boys  and  girls  are  being  led  to  the  same 
vision. 

I would  like  to  draw  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  Pre- 
siding Bishop  of  the  Church,  the  Rt.  Rev.  Ethelbert  Talbot, 
presented  the  first  resolution  that  was  ever  offered  in  the  Church 
regarding  the  Church  School  Service  League.  This  was  on 
December  10,  1918,  when  I first  explained  the  plan  of  service 
in  the  Five  Fields  to  the  old  Board  of  Missions.  Bishop  Talbot 
then  offered  a resolution  to  the  Board  “commending  the  plan 
and  urging  its  adoption  in  parish  life.” 

Looking  back  over  the  intervening  years  what  do  we  find 
has  been  accomplished.^  Perhaps  one  of  the  greatest  things 
is  that  boys  and  girls  are  learning  to  meet  life  problems  in  the 
Christian  way.  They  are  learning  to  serve,  through  working 
and  giving,  studying,  praying,  in  fellowship  with  their  own 
group  and  with  those  whom  they  seek  to  serve. 

Work  in  the  Five  Fields 

The  Parish  Through  a Parish  Project  the  child  comes  to 
realize  that  the  parish  is  an  integral  part  of  the  Church,  but 
is  efficient  just  so  far  as  it  produces  active,  intelligent  workers 
in  all  fields,  and  ministers  to  the  needs  of  others  through  gifts 
of  money,  service,  and  life. 


8 


BULLETIN  NO.  53 


1926 


The  Church  School  need  no  longer  lack  models,  sand-trays, 
tables,  etc.,  for  boys  and  girls  now  make  them,  as  well  as  pro- 
cessional crosses,  bulletin  boards,  picture  frames  and  pew  desks 
for  use  in  the  Church  School.  The  guilds  are  provided  with 
dusters,  dish  cloths,  aprons.  Boys  and  girls  arrange  leaflets 
and  take  care  of  vestments.  They  help  to  repair  Church  build- 
ings; they  act  as  janitors;  they  aid  the  Church  Periodical  Club. 
In  every  way  boys  and  girls  are  standing  ready  to  do  whatso- 
ever their  rectors,  vestries,  or  parish  societies  ask  from  them. 

Community  Through  a Community  Project  there  is  de- 
veloped in  the  boys  and  girls  a feeling  of  gratitude  and  appre- 
ciation of  all  the  privileges  and  opportunities  that  the  Com- 
munity affords  them,  resulting  in  a realization  of  an  obligation 
to  render  some  service  in  return. 

Direct  contacts  are  more  easily  made  in  the  Community  than 
in  the  wider  fields.  They  provide  the  boys  and  girls  with  more 
opportunities  for  the  actual  practice  of  the  principle  of  brother- 
hood laid  down  by  Jesus  Christ. 

The  Church’s  work  among  the  foreign  born  has  a very  defi- 
nite place  in  the  Community  Program.  There  are  thousands 
of  children  of  the  foreign  born  who  have  not  the  right  kind 
of  American  friends  and  who  never  go  inside  a Church  School 
because  no  one  has  been  the  kind  of  friend  who  would  invite 
them  to  come.  This  is  an  opportunity  for  Church  boys  and 
girls.  Each  can  be  a missionary  by  making  a special  effort  to 
form  at  least  one  such  friendship  and  bring  the  friend  to  the 
Church  School. 

From  the  many  acts  of  service  that  were  reported  I can  only 
take  a few.  Conducting  play  classes  at  a settlement ; provid- 
ing milk  for  district  nurses;  coal  for  needy  families;  fresh  eggs 
for  the  sick;  daily  lunchfeon  for  under-nourished  children; 
gathering  linen  and  selling  papers  for  hospitals ; making  sun- 
shine bags,  layettes;  Noah’s  Arks  for  Children’s  Homes;  giv- 
ing a pageant  in  a prison;  visiting  the  sick  and  lonely  in  the 
town ; teaching  Church-School  lessons  to  children  in  hospitals ; 
joining  Community  Campaigns. 

Diocese  Through  a Diocesan  Project  the  boys  and  girls  are 
brought  to  a clearer  understanding  of  the  organization  and 
administration  of  their  diocese.  They  are  helped  to  know  that 


f 


1926 


BULLETIN  NO.  53 


9 


the  diocese  is  the  unit  of  tlie  General  Church  through  which 
their  own  Church  School  works. 

Reports  show  that  boys  and  girls  are  rapidly  developing  this 
consciousness.  They  are  feeling  a responsibility  in  helping  to 
establish  Churches  and  Missions  In  their  own  diocese,  they  are 
providing  equipment  for  diocesan  missions  such  as  Altar  crosses, 
vestments,  and  kneeling  pads,  etc.  They  are  adopting  Church 
Schools;  providing  the  materials  for  them;  helping  in  the  teach- 
ing ; leading  in  the  Service  Program.  They  give  fruit  and  veget- 
ables for  Church  Homes,  they  make  gifts  for  diocesan  suit-cases. 
In  fact,  they  place  themselves  at  the  call  of  their  Bishops,  ready 
to  do  whatever  he  needs. 

Nation  Through  a National  Project  the  boys  and  girls  are 
brought  into  relationship  with  other  boys  and  girls  in  the  mission 
field,  coming  to  know  Indians,  Mountaineers,  and  Negroes  as  their 
neighbors.  A spirit  of  fellowship  Is  developed  resulting  in  the 
desire  to  share  their  blessings  with  these  neighbors,  to  receive 
help  from  them  and  to  work  together  for  the  extension  of  Christ’s 
Kingdom.  One  way  that  this  desire  to  share  is  expressed  is 
through  the  Christmas  Box.  The  provincial  plan  of  assigning 
the  boxes  has  been  put  into  effect,  each  province  In  rotation  pro- 
viding for  each  of  the  mission  fields. 

In  January,  1923,  the  handling  of  the  assignment,  correspond- 
ence, etc.,  was  assigned  to  the  Supply  Department  at  the  Mis- 
sions House.  This  did  not  mean  that  there  was  any  change  in 
the  diocese  or  parish.  The  work  continues  as  the  Christmas 
Box  Work  of  the  Church  School  Service  League,  and  the  pro- 
motion of  the  work  has  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  Secretary 
for  the  Church  School  Service  League  in  the  Department  of 
Religious  Education. 

In  1924,  gifts  were  sent  to  58,153  individuals  in  our  missions 
at  home  and  abroad.  This  is  an  increase  of  16,810  over  the 
number  reported  for  1923,  and  53,000  over  the  number  reported 
in  Portland,  1922. 

The  Red  Cross,  the  Church  Periodical  Club,  the  Seamen’s 
Church  Institute  and  the  Church’s  Program  all  received  due 
attention.  Thus  the  boys  and  girls  come  to  the  realization  that 
each  one  has  a responsibility  in  helping  to  make  our  country  a 
truly  Christian  Nation. 


BULLETIN  NO.  63 


1926 


1 0 


World  Through  a World  Project  the  sympathy  of  the  boys 
and  girls  is  deepened  and  their  interest  broadened  still  further 
resulting  in  the  attitude  that  “Missions,”  so  called,  is  not  some- 
thing additional  to  the  normal  life  of  the  Church,  but  is  absolute- 
ly essential  to  the  Church’s  life:  a carrying  forward  of  her  “Mis- 
sion.” ^ 

Mission  Study 

In  the  course  of  the  year  our  boys  and  girls  realize  their 
fellowship  with  God’s  people  all  over  the  world.  They  take  their 
part  in  the  affairs  of  the  home  and  parish.  They  study  condi- 
tions in  their  Community  to  learn  how  best  to  help  their  neighbors 
who  are  near  at  hand.  They  respond  to  the  calls  for  help  in 
the  Nation,  and  when  the  special  call  to  service  comes  in  Lent 
they  set  aside  a special  period  for  an  intensive  study  of  the  work 
of  the  Church  in  some  one  of  the  Missionary  districts. 

During  the  Triennium  the  subjects  studied  have  been  Africa, 

Japan,  and  China.  Each  year  four  graded  books  on  the  current 
subject  were  prepared  or  recommended.  The  text  books  of  the 
Missionary  Education  Movement  are  used  in  connection  with 
these.  For  two  years  the  Girls’  Friendly  Society  and  the  Church 
School  Service  League  collaborated  in  preparing  the  teaching 
programs  for  the  High  School  books  Issued  by  the  Missionary 
Education  Movement. 

Reports  show  that  each  year  an  increasing  number  of  Mission 
Study  classes  are  held. 

Lenten  Offering 

The  great  project  in  Christian  Stewardship  for  boys  and 
girls  is  the  Lenten  Offering.  Mission  Study  is  placed  in  Lent 
in  order  that  it  may  stimulate  this  offering. 

The  Japanese  Reconstruction  Fund  received  a large  offering 
from  the  boys  and  girls.  The  Near  East  Relief  was  also  the 
recipient  of  clothing  and  money.  ^ 

The  Call  to  Service 

Following  the  recommendation  of  the  leaders  at  the  last 
Triennial  meeting,  the  Call  to  Service  for  use  in  Lent  was  the 
following  year  based  on  the  Five  Fields.  But  for  the  past  two 


1926 


BULLETIN  NO.  53 


1 1 

years  the  weekly  topics  have  been  the  same  as  the  subjects  on  the 
Lenten  Posters.  The  leaflets  have  served  as  an  aid  in  developing 
the  spiritual  side  of  the  Lenten  Offering.  In  1924,  they  were 
used  by  150,000  boys  and  girls. 

Prayer 

Boys  and  girls  formulated  their  own  prayers  for  parish  and 
home,  and  for  the  other  fields  of  service.  We  believe  that  prayer 
is  the  greatest  factor  in  the  Service  Program,  for  if  work  is  to  be 
done  effectively  for  Christ  it  must  depend  on  Him  through 
Prayer.  Perhaps  in  no  diocese  is  this  dependence  better  ex- 
pressed than  in  Western  New  York  where  there  is  a devotional 
committee  which  has  in  charge  the  Fellowship  of  Prayer. 

Study 

Christian  service  must  be  intelligent.  Through  graded  study 
boys  and  girls  learn  to  know  for  whom  they  are  working,  and 
why.  They  learn  the  histories  of  the  parish  and  the  diocese,  the 
Church’s  Program,  the  relation  of  the  Church  to  the  Community 
and  Nation,  all  that  goes  to  help  make  an  intelligent  Christian 
citizen. 

Gifts 

Gifts  Included  money  for  hundreds  of  objects,  but  greater 
than  money  was  the  gift  of  time  and  self  on  the  part  of  thousands 
of  boys  and  girls  who  recognized  the  fact  that  God  wants  them 
to  give  of  themselves  to  carry  on  the  Mission  of  the  Church. 

Fellowship 

There  are  many  acts  of  fellowship  reported.  Seniors  helping 
with  Little  Helper’s  meetings ; Juniors  giving  entertainments  for 
Primary  children;  Grammar  grades  entertaining  the  Woman’s 
Auxiliary;  Primary  children  giving  a party  for  mothers;  Kin- 
1,  dergarten  children  having  a doll’s  party  for  other  little  children. 
The  climax  of  fellowship  is  the  Corporate  Communion  of  those 
taking  part  in  the  Service  Program. 

The  Birthday  Thank  Offering 

The  Birthday  Thank  Offering  is  gradually  taking  a deep 
hold  in  the  Church.  Each  year  more  Church  Schools  are  joining 


12 


BULLETIN  NO.  53 


1926 


in  the  offering.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  not  alone  are 
Church  Schools  taking  part  in  this  offering,  hut  also  individuals 
or  groups  outside  the  school  who  have  learned  of  the  project 
have  sent  their  offerings  to  be  joined  to  the  others.  The  follow- 
ing letter  is  one  example. 

My  dear  Miss  Withers: 

I am  sending  you  some  money  for  the  “birthday  thank  offer- 
ing”, for  me  and  my  three  brothers.  I am  7%.  Robert  is  4%. 
Marshall  is  2%.  Neil  is  8 months.  I belong  to  the  Church 
School  Service  League. 

Yours  truly, 

J.  W.  Roberts,  Jr. 

As  you  know,  the  first  offering  of  $8,126.00  presented  in  Port- 
land was  used  to  build  the  “Pelican  II,”  the  launch  for  Bishop 
Rowe.  The  second  offering  will  build  and  equip  the  Overs  School 
in  Liberia.  The  amount  will  be  revealed  on  October  11th.  (The 
amount  proved  to  be  $22,426.77.) 


Money  Gifts 

If  acts  of  sei’vlce  cannot  be  tabulated  figures  can  be,  and 
where  they  show  the  fruit  of  one’s  work  they  are  an  indication 
of  the  life  and  spirit  of  the  individual. 

It  is  Interesting  to  note  the  growth  of  money  gifts  during  the 
three  years  between  1922  and  1925. 

The  first  table  is  a comparison  of  reports  rendered  in  Portland 
1922  for  the  year  preceding,  and  in  New  Orleans  1925,  for  the 
year  preceding  the  conference. 

Portland  New  Orleans 
1922  1925 

Gifts  in  the  Five  Fields  $101,524.49  $244,680.17 

Little  Helper's  Offering  2,516.14  7,664.42 

Birthday  Thank  Offering  8,126.00  22,426.77 

$112,166.63  $274,771.36 


The  total  amount  for  the  Triennium  1922-1925  reported  * 
through  the  Church  School  Service  League  over  and  above  the 
Lenten  Offering  is 


Gifts  in  the  Five  Fields  $515,460.61 

The  Little  Helpers  22,242.95 

The  Birthday  Thank  Offering  22,426.77 


t 


$560,130.33 


Christmas  Box 


The  growth  of  the  Christmas  Box  has  kept  pace  with  that  of 
other  phases  of  the  Service  Program.  The  following  table  shows 
this  growth  between  1922  and  1925. 

Portland  New  Orleans 
1922  1925 

Number  of  Missions 410  614 

Number  of  Children 34,492  60,681 

Value  of  Boxes  $32,166.40  $53,802.00 

The  following  table  gives  the  aggregate  number  for  the  Tri- 
ennium. 

Number  of  Individuals  159,614 

Value  of  Boxes $148,310.86 

Eighty-one  dioceses  and  districts  sent  in  reports  to  head- 
quarters. A few  reports  were  full;  more  were  meagre,  resulting 
in  the  fact  that  the  above  statement  is  only  a partial  picture 
of  what  is  accomplished  by  the  boys  and  girls  of  the  Church. 
This  report  through  the  Church  School  Service  League  is  the 
only  effort  in  the  national  Church  of  obtaining  a picture  of 
service  rendered  and  money  given  by  boys  and  girls  of  the 
Church.  What  would  be  revealed  if  every  parish  and  every  dio- 
cese sent  a full  report.? 

Little  Helpers 

Turning  from  the  work  of  the  boys  and  girls  in  the  Church 
Schools,  we  come  to  the  work  of  the  little  ones  at  home. 

The  Little  Helpers  Department  of  the  Church  School  consists 
of  the  babies  and  children  of  pre-kindergarten  age.  This  de- 
partment has  two  purposes: 

1.  To  bring  the  privilege  of  Baptism  to  the  attention  of  the 
parents. 

2.  To  assist  parents  in  the  religious  training  of  children  during 
the  first  four  or  five  years,  that  the  babies  may  receive  from 
earliest  days  continuous  care  by  the  Church. 

The  part  the  child  takes  is  to  pray  for  others,  to  give  to  others, 
and  to  learn  what  he  can  about  God. 

The  gifts  of  the  Little  Helpers  have  made  an  advance  in  the 
past  Triennium.  Each  year  there  are  definite  objectives  for 
the  offerings  that  are  assigned  by  our  Department  of  Religious 
Education,  and  recorded  in  the  Treasurer’s  office.  The  mite  box 
bears  the  inscription  “For  the  work  of  the  Church  under  the 


direction  of  the  National  Council,”  therefore,  it  is  expected  that 
the  offerings  from  the  boxes  shall  be  so  used. 

The  new  material  issued  in  the  last  Triennium  for  the  Little 
Helpers  is  as  follows : 2,000  Manuals  for  Leaders  of  the  Little 
Helpers,  40,000  Questions  and  Answers  concerning  the  Little 
Helpers  and  40,000  Ideals  of  Parenthood.  These  are  proving 
of  great  value. 

The  Service  Program  in  the  Church  School 

No  effort  has  been  made  on  the  part  of  the  leaders  in  the 
Church  School  Service  League  movement  to  standardize  any  one 
form  of  Church  School  organization.  The  principles  of  world- 
wide service  have  been  stated,  the  program  presented,  and  the 
method  for  its  development  left  to  the  individual  Church  School. 

In  1922,  I reported  to  you  that  700  Church  Schools  were 
taking  part  in  the  program.  I now  have  the  pleasure  of  re- 
porting that  at  present  there  are  2,253  Church  Schools  partici- 
pating. Not  all  schools  are  carrying  out  the  program  to  its 
fullest,  but  the  fact  that  so  large  a number  are  taking  part  shows 
a great  advance  in  understanding  its  flexibility  and  adaptability. 

How  Has  the  Program  Been  Used.? 

First,  it  has  been  developed  in  what  we  may  call  the  three- 
session  school,  where  pupils  are  excused  from  public  schools  on 
public-school  time. 

The  hour  of  the  afternoon  session  is  used  to  expand  the  lesson 
begun  on  Sunday.  Having  found  that  it  is  impossible  to  cover 
worship.  Instruction,  and  service  in  one  hour,  in  these  schools 
the  children  give  at  least  three  quarters  of  an  hour  in  addition 
to  the  public-school  time  to  carry  out  the  service  program. 
Schools  of  this  type  are  increasing. 

There  Is  the  two-session  school  where  the  classes  of  the  Church 
School  are  divided  into  groups,  each  group  meeting  during  the 
week  to  carry  out  the  Service  Program.  This  type  is  the  most 
usual.  As  one  leader  reported,  “Week  by  week  the  work  goes 
on  and  one  cannot  feel  that  the  service,  however  simple,  is  accept- 
able to  Him  in  Whose  name  it  is  done.” 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  program  is  frequently  car- 
ried out  through  the  Sunday  sessions  alone.  In  some  schools  of 


1926 


BULLETIN  NO.  53 


16 


this  type  the  work  is  done  on  Sunday  mornings.  Five  times  a 
year  a morning  is  set  aside  to  cover  in  turn  the  Five  Fields  of 
Service.  This  is  frequently  the  case  in  isolated  missions  where 
the  minister  visits  the  mission  only  once  or  twice  a month.  In 
other  Church  Schools  the  Service  Program  is  carried  out  on 
Sunday  morning  after  the  instruction  period,  while  the  parents 
and  older  boys  and  girls  are  attending  the  Church  service.  In 
stiU  other  schools  the  work  is  assigned  on  Sunday  and  carried 
out  during  the  week  by  classes  or  groups  or  individuals. 

Another  type  is  the  Church  School  that  does  not  have  regular 
meetings,  but  meets  in  groups  for  work  for  the  Christmas  Boxes 
or  for  Mission  Study,  or  for  both.  Some  schools  meet  only 
when  there  is  a call  for  special  work  in  any  one  of  the  Five 
Fields  of  Service. 

Another  type  of  Church  School  is  working  the  program 
through  the  Church  School  and  its  various  organizations,  to  the 
end  that  there  may  be  a unified  program  of  service  for  the  youth 
of  the  parish.  (During  the  Triennium  1919-1922  the  organiza- 
tions of  the  Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew,  the  Girls’  Friendly  So- 
ciety, the  Boy  Scouts  of  America,  and  the  Order  of  Sir  Galahad 
had  prepared  a coordination  of  their  programs  with  the  program 
of  the  Church  School  Service  League.  In  1923,  The  Order  of  the 
Junior  Daughters  of  the  King  officially  incorporated  its  pro- 
gram with  the  program  of  the  Church  School  Service  League, 
and  so  they  appear  in  the  new  edition  of  “Working  Together.” 
Boarding  Schools  are  also  Incorporating  the  Service  Program 
into  their  curricula.) 

Rural  Work 

As  the  program  of  the  Church  School  Service  League  is  be- 
coming better  understood  it  proves  to  be  most  acceptable  and 
adaptable  in  rural  districts.  It  has  been  found  that  where  the  pro- 
gram is  used,  the  responsibility  for  its  development  rests  upon  the 
chairman  of  the  Church  School  Service  League  or  some  one  ap- 
pointed by  her  who  will  write  individual  letters : one  who  has  un- 
tiring patience  and  sympathy  in  helping  these  untrained  workers 
to  understand  their  responsibilities  and  to  feel  that  they  are  a 
part  of  the  whole  Church,  not  apart  from  it.  She  pays  Individual 
visits  and  answers  patiently  and  carefully  every  question  put  to 
her  by  the  inexperienced  leaders. 


Again,  If  space  permitted  I could  give  many  interesting  stories 
as  to  how  the  Church  School  Service  League  is  carried  on  in 
rural  fields  and  mission  stations.  Some  of  these  stories  can  be 
found  in  our  new  book,  “The  Service  Program  of  the  Church 
School.”  Here  you  will  see  how  the  program  has  been  carried 
out  in  a coal-mining  town,  on  a mountain  top,  in  a tiny  mission 
of  one  man,  five  women,  and  one  little  girl,  in  the  farm  country, 
and  in  a cotton-mill  town. 

Mission  Field 

As  the  Church  School  Service  League  is  proving  its  value  in 
our  own  country,  so  it  is  slowly  going  forward  in  the  mission 
field.  It  is  merely  a question  of  understanding  and  adapting  the 
program  to  local  conditions. 

Printed  Matter 

Printed  matter  is  of  great  assistance  in  promoting  the  pro- 
gram. Fourteen  dioceses  have  bulletins  that  are  sent  out  at  the 
beginning  of  each  season.  In  these  are  definite  directions  for 
carrying  out  the  national  program  in  the  manner  best  suited  to 
local  conditions.  The  bulletins  contain  suggestions  for  work  In 
the  particular  field  of  service  in  which  the  diocese  is  then  working. 

Fifteen  other  dioceses  send  out  programs  once  a year,  giving 
plans  and  suggestions  for  carrying  out  the  program  for  the 
entire  year. 

Some  dioceses  send  out  special  notices  regarding  Mission  Study 
or  the  Birthday  Thank  Offering,  or  the  work  of  the  Little  Help- 
ers. Newark  issued  an  illustrated  leaflet  for  promoting  the 
Christmas  Box  Work. 

Nearly  all  of  the  dioceses  sent  letters  to  parish  leaders  con- 
taining information  about  Box  Work,  the  Birthday  Thank  Of- 
fering, the  Little  Helpers,  and  other  phases  of  the  Service  Pro- 
gram. 

National  Literature 

Even  with  all  the  diocesan  literature  that  is  published  there  is 
a great  demand  at  headquarters  for  literature  on  the  various 
phases  of  the  work. 


1926 


BULLETIN  NO.  53 


1 7 

In  1925,  the  number  of  pieces  of  free  material  sent  out  on 
request  were  as  follows : 


Genera!  Information — Prayer  Cards,  etc 59,007 

Little  Helpers  Work — 206,700 

Christmas  Box  Work  10,100 

Birthday  Thank  Offering  135,175 

Call  to  Service  150,000 


660,982 

This  did  not  include  the  Book  of  Programs,  The  Manual  for 
Leaders  of  the  Little  Helpers,  Working  Together,  or  the  Mission 
Study  books.  Four  thousand,  nine  hundred  and  seventy  copies 
of  the  Book  of  Programs  are  in  the  hands  of  leaders,  leaving 
but  40  out  of  the  edition  of  5,000. 

In  Detroit,  1919,  In  the  Service  of  the  King  was  presented  to 
the  leaders  as  the  first  formulation  in  book  form  of  the  Church 
School  Service  League. 

In  Portland,  1922,  The  Book  of  Programs  of  the  Church 
School  Service  League  was  presented  as  an  enrichment  of  the 
program. 

Now  in  1925,  the  book.  The  Service  Program  of  the  Church 
School  is  presented  to  the  leaders  in  New  Orleans.  The  value 
of  this  book  lies  in  the  fact  that  it  embodies  your  experiences 
in  the  field.  It  is  our  purpose  to  bind  together  the  schools 
of  our  Church  in  the  fellowship  of  Christ’s  Service. 

The  Christian  Nurture  Series 

In  the  revision  of  the  Christian  Nurture  Series  the  Service 
Program  is  recognized  as  furnishing  abundant  suggestions  for 
each  grade  whereby  the  Sunday  lesson  may  be  expressed  in  ser- 
vice. The  Block  System  with  its  seasonal  motives  has  been  in- 
corporated into  each  of  the  manuals. 

Who  Has  Led  the  Boys  and  Girds  in  the  Work.? 

You  will  remember  that  in  Portland  you  met  with  the  Com- 
mission on  the  Church  School  Service  League,  a group  of  men 
and  women  who  for  three  years  had  met  regularly,  doing  con- 
structive work  in  perfecting  and  promoting  the  Service  Program. 

After  General  Convention  1922,  following  a policy  of  economy, 
the  Department  of  Religious  Education  merged  seven  of  its  ex- 
isting commissions  into  one.  The  Church  School  Commission. 


BULLETIN  NO.  53 


1926 


1 8 


Provincial  Committees 

Instead,  then,  of  having  a representative  commission  of  the 
Church  School  Service  League  the  plan  was  adopted  for  having 
a committee  of  the  Church  School  Service  League  in  each  prov- 
ince with  whom  I would  meet  accordingly.  Provincial  commit- 
tees of  the  Church  School  Service  League  were  appointed  by  the 
several  Provincial  Departments  of  Religious  Education. 

I have  met  with  the  committees  of  four  provinces,  the  First, 
Second,  Third  and  Fourth.  Three  other  provinces,  the  Fifth, 
Sixth,  and  Eighth  have  each  a provincial  chairman. 

The  Educational  Secretary  of  the  Third  Province  arranged  a 
trip  for  me  through  the  Province,  in  which  I visited  six  dioceses, 
holding  institutes  and  conferences  in  them,  and  addressing  dio- 
cesan conventions.  This  province  was  the  first  to  form  its  pro- 
vincial committee,  and  the  first  to  have  a meeting  of  diocesan  lead- 
ers of  all  dioceses  within  the  province.  A three  days  Institute 
was  also  held  for  the  training  of  diocesan  leaders.  The  com- 
mittee also  held  an  exhibit  at  the  time  of  the  Synod. 

The  Province  of  Sewanee  holds  an  annual  meeting  of  diocesan 
leaders  each  year  at  the  Sewanee  Summer  School.  The  first  meet- 
ing was  held  at  Chattanooga  where  I was  privileged  to  address 
the  Provincial  Synod. 

The  Province  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey  has  had  meet- 
ings of  its  committee  at  which  have  been  formulated  plans 
for  a meeting  of  diocesan  leaders  within  the  province. 

The  Chairman  of  the  Sixth  Province  successfully  arranged  a 
trip  for  me  through  the  Province.  At  this  time  I visited  seven 
dioceses,  spoke  in  churches,  held  institutes,  and  met  with  leaders 
both  diocesan  and  parochial. 


Diocesan  Committees 

In  Portland,  1922,  I reported  to  you  that  68  dioceses  had 
some  kind  of  diocesan  organization  of  the  Church  School  Service 
League.  It  is  now  my  pleasure  to  report  that  there  are  77  dio- 
ceses and  domestic  missionary  districts  and  three  foreign  mis- 
sionary districts  which  have  Church  School  Service  League  com- 
missions or  committees,  varying  in  number  from  one  member  to 
eleven.  There  are  four  dioceses  which  are  partially  carrying  out 


1926 


BULLETIN  NO.  53 


1 9 

the  program  without  a diocesan  committee  of  the  Church  School 
Service  League,  but  with  certain  people  appointed  by  the  Bishop, 
the  Department  of  Religious  Education,  or  the  Woman’s  Auxil- 
iary, to  have  charge  of  this  work.  Two  dioceses  still  retain  the 
Junior  Auxiliary,  Vermont  and  Virginia.  This  makes  a total  of 
86  dioceses  and  missionary  districts  with  which  the  National 
Secretary  of  the  Church  School  Service  League  has  contact. 
Three  hundred  and  thirty-two  diocesan  leaders  are  carrying  for- 
ward the  program.  With  three  domestic  missionary  districts 
the  Church  School  Service  League  has  no  contact. 

The  dioceses  which  have  formed  committees  of  the  Church 
School  Service  League  since  1922  are:  Easton,  West  Virginia, 
Alabama,  Atlanta,  Texas,  Upper  South  Carolina,  Fond  du  Lac, 
Western  Nebraska,  Eastern  Oregon,  Idaho,  New  York,  Porto 
Rico,  Cuba,  Springfield,  Southwestern  Virginia,  North  Texas, 
West  Missouri,  Honolulu,  Florida,  and  South  Florida. 

I cannot  let  this  portion  of  my  report  pass  without  a com- 
ment upon  the  three  foreign  missionary  district  committees. 
Cuba  was  the  first  to  form  its  committee.  To  meet  the  need  of 
Cuban  leaders,  and  the  boys  and  girls,  the  Five  Fields  of  Service 
and  the  Church  School  Service  League  Prayer  have  been  trans- 
lated into  Spanish.  Bishop  Hulse  is  desirous  of  having  aU  the 
Church  Schools  in  Cuba  adopt  the  program  of  the  Church  School 
Service  League.  Porto  Rico  has  its  supervisor.  She  is  appointed 
by  Bishop  Colmore,  who  is  anxious  that  the  Church  School  Ser- 
vice League  shall  go  forward  in  the  Island. 

Bishop  LaMothe  of  Honolulu  has  appointed  a district  super- 
visor. While  China  and  Japan  have  no  district  supervisors, 
units  of  the  League  are  being  started  in  both  countries. 

Diocesan  Meetings 

It  is  interesting  to  know  how  the  various  ’dioceses  are  holding 
meetings.  Eighteen  are  having  annual  meetings  of  leaders  or 
rallies  of  boys  and  girls.  Five  have  reported  that  their  annual 
meetings  were  held  in  conjunction  with  the  Presentation  of  the 
Lenten  Offering. 

The  Day  of  Offerings  of  Massachusetts  is  the  time  when  the 
Lenten  Offering  is  presented,  and  reports  are  given  by  Church 
Schools  in  various  ways. 


20 


BULLETIN  NO.  53 


1926 


Bethlehem  begins  its  annual  meeting  Friday  night  with  a con- 
ference and  pageant.  Saturday  morning  starts  with  Holy  Com- 
munion and  presentation  of  the  Lenten  Offering.  At  11:30  the 
Church  School  Service  League  officers  have  their  business  meeting. 
After  luncheon  the  reports  are  rendered  by  boys  and  girls  of 
service  accomplished  in  the  Five  Fields. 

Cuba  has  an  annual  Church  School  Institute  in  which  the 
Church  School  Service  League  has  its  place  upon  the  program. 
By  this  conference  and  an  exhibit  of  work  the  various  missions 
are  helped  to  an  understanding  of  the  program. 

Institute  classes  and  conferences  are  held  by  the  majority  of 
dioceses  in  which  the  Church  Schools  are  helped  to  a fuller  under- 
standing of  the  privilege  of  service.  Thus  we  see  that  where 
the  program  is  understood,  there  its  value  is  recognized  and  there 
it  will  be  followed. 


Leadership 

Leadership  is  what  the  Church  is  pleading  for.  Where  can 
we  look  for  its  early  development  save  in  the  Church  School.^ 
We  are  given  a motto  for  an  ideal  education.  “Not  things  to 
know  but  things  to  do.”  Therefore,  the  Church  School  must 
have  its  Service  Progi’am  if  it  is  to  accomplish  this  ideal.  But  it 
is  not  enough  for  the  child  simply  to  follow  direction  in  service 
work.  Such  directed  work  keeps  the  child  in  his  non-initiative 
life  and  produces  followers — not  leaders.  Leadership  in  the 
Church  will  be  developed  just  so  far  as  we  give  our  boys  and 
girls  an  opportunity  for  original  thought  and  expression  and 
allow  them  to  shai'e  in  forming  and  carrying  out  their  plans, 
and  nowhere  in  the  Church  School  is  there  a greater  opportunity 
for  this  development  than  as  the  boys  and  girls  together  carry 
out  the  Service  Program. 


Conclusion 

And  so  I bring  my  report  to  a close.  In  these  days  immedi- 
ately before  us  we  are  to  have  opportunities  of  finding  from  one 
another  better  ways  of  helping  our  boys  and  girls  to  know  the 
joy  and  the  privilege  of  service  to  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  who 
taught  His  disciples  how  to  serve  through  serving  with  them. 


1 Ed.  4-26.  7M.  F.  T. 


